Objective: To research the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis and the value of that of cervical lymph node occult metastasis.
Method: Fifty-five patients(61 sides) operated by neck dissection were double-blindedly studied by preoperation palpation and ultrasonography comparing with postoperating pathological examination.
Result: Fifty-two sides were confirmed to be pathology lymph node metastasis from 61 sides. 40 and 48 sides were checked out by palpation and ultrasonography, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of palpation and ultrasonography were 76.9% and 92.3% (P < 0.05), 77.8% and 88.9%(P > 0.05) and 77.0% and 91.8%(P < 0.05), respectively. Six sides were checked out by ultrasonography (occult metastasis) in 12 sides of palpation negative.
Conclusion: The accuracy of ultrasonography was prior to that of palpation in examining cervical lymph node metastsis. Ultrasonography could check out about half occult metastasis and should be regarded as a routine examining items in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis.